Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has implemented significant changes to his team for the Rugby Championship match against the Wallabies in Perth on Saturday.
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There are 10 alterations to the starting lineup that previously defeated Australia 33-7 in Brisbane.
Lock Salmaan Moerat will captain the team, taking over from Siya Kolisi. This will be Moerat’s second time leading the Springboks, having previously captained them in a 64-21 victory over Portugal in Bloemfontein last month. Morne van den Berg (scrumhalf) and Ruan Nortje (lock) will make their first Test starts, while Marco van Staden (loose forward) is promoted from the bench to Kolisi’s No 6 position.
The players retaining their spots are Cheslin Kolbe (winger), Jesse Kriel (centre), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (flyhalf), Elrigh Louw (No 8), and Pieter-Steph du Toit, who moves from lock to flanker.
The front row sees the return of Jan-Hendrik Wessels and Thomas du Toit (both props) and Johan Grobbelaar (hooker), who last played against Portugal.
Joining them are Van den Berg, Aphelele Fassi (fullback), Lukhanyo Am (inside centre), Makazole Mapimpi (wing), and Manie Libbok (flyhalf), with Libbok starting on the bench in a typical split of five forwards and three backs.
Kolisi, Frans Malherbe, Gerhard Steenekamp (both props), Bongi Mbonambi (hooker), Cobus Reinach (scrumhalf), Kurt-Lee Arendse (wing), Damian de Allende (centre), and Willie le Roux (fullback) are all rested. Ben-Jason Dixon, who played flanker last week, is out with a minor injury, and RG Snyman remains sidelined due to a persistent foot injury.
Nortje, who missed the Brisbane match with a knee issue, returns to the match-day squad for the first time since his Test debut against Wales in Bloemfontein in 2022.
The bench includes several Rugby World Cup-winners: Malcolm Marx (hooker), Ox Nche, Vincent Koch (both props), Eben Etzebeth (lock), Kwagga Smith (loose forward), Grant Williams (scrumhalf), Libbok, and Handre Pollard (flyhalf). Erasmus explained that the team changes are aimed at balancing momentum and expanding squad depth.
‘We made it clear from the outset this season that one of our main goals is to build squad depth with an eye on the next Rugby World Cup here in Australia, and we feel there is no better way to test some of the younger players and assess where we are as a group against a top-Tier nation, especially away from home, in this match,’ Erasmus said.
Erasmus also anticipated a strong response from the Wallabies.
‘They will be desperate to come back strongly from last week’s defeat and I have no doubt that Joe Schmidt (Australian head coach) will select a team that is fired up and who will give everything to turn things around and get their campaign back on track.’
He added, ‘They are a proud nation and they’ll be highly motivated to continue their impressive home win record against us in Australia, so we’re fully aware of the challenge. But we’re also determined to continue building on the changes we’ve made since the end of the 2022 season (in which the Boks have only suffered three defeats in 20 matches) and we have a determined and enthusiastic group of players who also have a lot to play for.’
‘This is a massive match for us because if we can build on last week, it will give us a good chance to be in the mix for the title which we last won in 2019,’ Erasmus concluded.
The match kicks off at 11:45am SAST at the Optus Stadium in Perth.
Springbok XV:
15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Lukhanyo Am, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Elrigh Louw, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Salmaan Moerat (captain), 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Jan-Hendrik Wessels
Substitutes: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Eben Etzebeth, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Grant Williams, 22 Manie Libbok, 23 Handre Pollard
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Picture: Sydney Seshibedi / Gallo Images